What's the fastest growing sport in the country, has a sandwich condiment in its name and is new to Litchfield?
It's pickleball.
The sport was founded in 1965 and was named by the wife of one of three co-creators after fishing boats called "pickle boats" she saw near her home where the game originated in Washington state.
"It’s great exercise," said Tom Hoeg, who helped get the game off the ground in conjunction with Litchfield Community Education. "You don't have the demands of tennis of the running or the (powerful) serve."
Pickleball is commonly described as a combination of tennis, table tennis and badminton and features one or two players on each side. Two is most common.
Servers start with at least one foot behind the baseline and make an underhand serve to initiate. The court is the same dimensions of a badminton court.
Only the serving team can earn points, which number by ones to 11, or whichever number is pre-determined. The ball must bounce once on the serve and again on the return before players are free to hit through the air over the three-feet high net.
According to NBC News, pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the U.S. The Sports and Fitness Industry Association reported 2.46 million players worldwide in 2015. The number is expected to surpass three million in 2018.
Hoeg, a retired physical education teacher, said he's seen the demand for pickleball courts outsize the supply during his travels to Florida and California.
Pickleball is particularly popular with retirees, but it is now being taught more frequently in physical education classes. It has also sprouted up across the country in all-ages recreation programs.
Hoeg said since pickleball began in Litchfield on May 2, more than a dozen players have came to play and more are welcome. There is currently no competitive league play.
"There’s no charge and we can help out with the rackets," Hoeg said. "We’re just trying to build it here in Litchfield and have enough people to play and get it going."
Hoeg mentioned one of the sport's drawing points is its accessibility. Male and female players frequently compete with and against each other with neither gender having an inherent advantage.
Those interested in purchasing equipment of their own can find racquets at Walmart or sporting goods stores from about $15-$75. Rackets are roughly twice the size of table tennis paddles.
Pickle balls, which resemble plastic whiffle balls, are often sold in packs of three for around $10.
Pickleball in Litchfield is held on the westside of Lake Ripley Park. Times in the summer are 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. on Fridays.
